My Childhood Companion

Produced as a collaborative effort between authors from all over the world, My Childhood Companion is a collection of short stories on the themes of friendship, family and love based on Sunny’s experiences, and written especially for this book. It is particularly exciting to showcase this collection of work, as the authors all worked independently to produce their stories, and then the collection was brought together by Sunny Singh. The authors’ backgrounds cover four continents and a variety of professional writing experience, but the stories converge on the ideals of connecting with other human beings, the joy of finding love, and the cataclysmic effects of emotional hardship. These are universal themes, and they have been developed in different ways in this collection, but they are always relevant. The titular story is authored by Sunny Singh, and describes the experience of a first love, but like many first loves, it does not have a fairytale happy ending. However, that’s not to say that the experience was wasted, but rather, it forms a core memory crucial for how the main character developed as he grew up. What happens when you have tried to forget your first love, and then are reminded of her presence again? Roman J.’s story, The Love Letter, recounts a similar tale, with a few twists: the adolescent years are not always forgiving ones. The Love Letter follows the story of two teens from 7th to 10th grade, and chronicles the growth of their friendship, to the discovery of romance and broken hearts, plus the frustration and angst of being still unable to control one’s life independent of one’s parents. Losing one’s love, then finding her again, is a dominant theme in this extremely relatable story. The third story in the collection, The Foolish Brother, is an African-inspired parable about gods, families and the power of goodness in a community. The author, Lator Andrew Osarumwense, draws from traditional African influences to weave a modern fairytale with evil fathers, heroes from faraway lands, and the importance of family and heritage. Love, however, will still drive this story—but will it still have a traditional fairytale ending? Let Her Go is written by Maria Schicks, and is again based on themes from Sunny’s experiences as a teenager. This story describes not just the relationship between the protagonist and his love interest, but also the relationships and interactions between other people who are associated with them: their friends, family and teachers. After all, relationships do affect more than just the two people involved in them. Finally, Rita Cripe offers Just a Loan; an uplifting story about a modern romance and the harsh realities of the business world and the complexities of relationships. Kama is applying for a loan for his Indian restaurant business from Amy, who works at the bank. Will he be able to convince her that he and his business are worth her time and support? What is in store for them as they try to maneuver the fine line between business and pleasure? Developed by an international network of authors, the stories in My Childhood Companion—whether they are humor-driven, self-reflective or poignant—show how exactly how the notions of romance, love and relationships are truly universal notions that transcend national and cultural barriers. These stories are presented for the first time in an easy-to-read collection as a series of relatable parables for the modern world; they invite self-reflection on what is truly valuable, and will remind you of your own life experiences and the power of love to change a person.